Innehållsförteckning för 35 från Simply Crochet

YAN SCHENKEL Yan’s an Argentinian designer and author with a real passion for amigurumi. Flip across to page 49 to meet Henry J. Fox, her adorable toy that you’ll want to start hooking right away. ANN MORGAN As senior designer for Australian Country Spinners, Ann is a busy bee. This month, we catch up with her to chat yarn, street style and craft heroes. You can read all about it on page 54. SARAH HAZELL Crochet allows designer Sarah to work with pattern and colour in all sorts of exciting ways. She’s sharing the pattern for a stunning, patchwork-inspired throw with us this issue. See page 69. PHIL FERGUSON Artist and keen Instagrammer Phil started hooking when he moved to a new city. We can’t get enough of his larger-than-life…

Five hooky ideas to make going back to school more bearable. See page 63 for more projects. 1 BAG CHARMS Make backpacks and gym kits easily identifiable with distinctive crochet danglers. 2 GET IT WRITE Pencil toppers or grips are really speedy to make. 3 REQUIRED READING Jazz up a notebook with a crochet cover, or make colourful bookmarks. 4 LUNCHTIME FUN Make an apple cosy or two – the brighter the better. 5 HAT AND SCARF SET Start now so they’ll be ready for the cooler weather. HEXI HAPPY With simple granny stitches and a muted colour palette to die for, this pretty cotton baby blanket by Sebra is £69 at www.houseology.com Come to our blog at www.simplycrochetmag.com…

GET AROUND The chunky cotton yarn really shows off the simple texture of these round, squashy cushions. Make a pair in complementary colours to soften your space. Post treble stitches are used in these patterns. MAKING SPACE Crochet storage solutions are our favourite kind of storage solutions. This jumbo basket worked in stretchy jersey T-shirt yarn is just the right size for stacking your favourite magazines in (that’ll be Simply Crochet, then). CREATE A COSY Crochet cosies are straightforward projects that are great for beginners and make brilliant last-minute gifts. Got a caffeine-lover in your life or need a quick project you can start today? Hook a nifty cover for a cafetière or tissue box. THREE’S COMPANY Gently spiralling ribs of texture unite this varied trio of tubs. Make a…

YOU WILL NEED • Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK Sparkle (100% mercerised cotton, 100g/201m), Lemon Shine See table for yarn quantities and measurements • See note about hook sizes For yarn stockists, contact TB Ramsden 01943 872264 www.tbramsden.co.uk TENSION Size 10: 1 complete patt meas 6cm (2½in) in width; 8 rows (1 complete patt) meas 6cm (2½in) in depth using 2.5mm hook. Size 12: 1 complete patt meas 6.5cm (2¾in) in width; 8 rows (1 complete patt) meas 6.5cm (2¾in) in depth using 3mm hook. Size 14: 1 complete patt meas 7cm (2¾in) in width; 8 rows (1 complete patt) meas 7cm (2¾in) in depth using 3.5mm hook ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 . This gorgeous design from Wendy is oh-so wearable and will…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Paris (100% cotton, 50g/75m), 4 balls of Yarn A Apricot (01), 1 ball of each: Yarn B Light Peach (61) (now discontinued but still available from some retailers) OR Peach (27), Yarn C Raspberry (38) • A 6mm (US J/10) Tunisian hook For yarn stockists, contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk MEASUREMENTS 140x45cm (55x17›in) ABBREVIATIONS Picot Ch3, ss in first of those ch Shell (3dtr, picot, 3dtr) in same st Large shell (4ttr, picot, 4ttr) in same st Return Pass (RetP) The Return Pass is worked in the same way regardless of st you are working: Yrh and draw through first loop on hook, *yrh and draw through 2 loops on hook; rep from * until 1 loop remains on hook For a…

YOU WILL NEED • Rooster Almerino Aran (50% baby alpaca, 50% merino wool, 50g/94m), Yarn A Ocean (309) Yarn B Silver (320) See table for yarn quantities and measurements • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A 4.5mm (US 7) hook For yarn stockists, contact Laughing Hens 01829 740903 www.laughinghens.com TENSION 15 sts and 8.5 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using a 4.5mm hook or size needed to obtain required tension ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 . A: 43 (43: 43: 43: 43: 43: 44: 45: 45)cm 16¾ (16¾: 16¾: 16¾: 17¼: 17¾: 17¾)in B: 57 (58: 58: 59: 59: 60: 60: 61: 61)cm 22¼ (22¾: 22¾: 23¼: 23¼: 23¾: 23¾: 24¼: 24¼)in C: 43 (45: 49: 51: 53: 56: 59:…

YOU WILL NEED • 50g balls of Bamboo DK yarn in two colours (Yarns A and B) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • Scissors • Cotton tote bag • Coloured craft pompoms • Embroidery needle and thread ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92. Designers and craft tutors Amy Phipps and Claire Culley of Super+Super say: “Jazz up a tote bag with this bright crocheted trim. This is an excellent upcycling project and is a great way to reuse and reinvent any tired old tote bag. It will brighten up a dull grocery-shopping trip and would make a great gift, too.” We love this. BLANKET STITCH Using Yarn A, sew in blanket stitch (see below) around the edge of your tote bag.01 Make the stitches fairly close…

YOUR NEXT STEPS! Befriend your loom and perfect your hairpin crochet with our hairband. YOU WILL NEED • Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton Sparkle DK (100% cotton, 100g/201m), 1 ball of Lemon Shine (1919) (each hairband only uses approx 7g of yarn) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A hairpin loom, with the prongs set to 4cm wide For yarn stockists, contact TB Ramsden 01943 872264 www.tbramsden.co.uk MEASUREMENTS Finished hairband measures approx 52cm (20›in) in circumference, and stretches to 60cm (23›in) in circumference ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 . Making a really simple accessory is often the best way to get your head around a new crochet technique. With this design, you’ll become more familiar with the specific tools and stitches required to work…

SEPT 4 & 11 Introduction to Dressmaking, £99, Sew Over It, Clapham, London, 0207 3260376 www.sewoverit.co.uk SEPT 10-12 Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts Show, £8, EventCity, Manchester, 01425 272711 www.stitchandhobby.co.uk SEPT 11-13 Bristol Wool Fair, From £8, Washingpool Farm, Easter Compton, Bristol, www.bristolwoolfair.co.uk SEPT 17 Refreshers Crochet, £25, Stitched By You, Alton, Hampshire, 01420 544033 www.stitchedbyyou.co.uk SEPT 18-20 The Handmade Fair, From £15, The Green, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, www.thehandmadefair.com SEPT 24 Giant Crochet Workshop, £TBC, Little Lancashire Smallholding, Ainsworth, www.thelittlelancashiresmallholding.co.uk…

YOU WILL NEED • Rico Baby Classic DK (50% polyamide, 50% acrylic, 50g/165m), 1 ball of each: Vanilla (003), Powder (038), Candy Pink (019), Grass (35) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook • Brooch back For yarn stockists, contact Rico www.rico-design.co.uk MEASUREMENTS 8.5cm (3›in) diameter ABBREVIATIONS Picot Ch3, ss in first of those ch For a full list, see page 92 . The texture in the flower centre is created by working picots into the front loops only. next st) 6 times, ss to the first dc. [18 sts] Round 4 Ch1, (dc into each of next 2 sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times, ss to the first dc. [24 sts] Round 5 Ch1, (dc into each of next 3 sts, 2dc into next…

There’s something special about crochet shawls, isn’t there? Earlier this year, I worked on The Shawl Project: Book One with fellow crocheter Kat Goldin and we were overwhelmed by its success. The clamour for a second book – and some great conversations between Kat and myself about where to go next with shawls – inspired us to go for it and put together another collection. We’re proud to be launching The Shawl Project: Book Two at Yarndale 26-27 September 2015. There was so much more we wanted to explore! While Book One was all single skein projects, each Book Two design uses two 100g skeins of 4ply yarn (you might want to start looking through your stash and hunting out some possible pairings). This time, Kat is playing along too…

YOU WILL NEED • Patons Diploma Gold DK (55% wool, 25% acrylic, 20% nylon, 50g/120m), 2 balls of Yarn A Seville (6201) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Cream (6142) Yarn C Almond (6204) Yarn D Taupe (6237) Yarn E Black (6183) (see Notes) A 2.75mm (US C/2) hook Polyester toy stuffing 2 black safety eyes (8mm) 1 stitch marker Tapestry or yarn needle TENSION Tension is not critical for this project but it is important that stitches are dense so any stuffing does not poke through MEASUREMENTS 27cm (10›in) tall ABBREVIATIONS Bobble stitch Tr5tog in the same st as follows: (Yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 5 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh…

YOU WILL NEED • Any DK cotton yarn, approx 15g per pinwheel • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • One button • Stick (we used barbecue skewers) MEASUREMENTS Large pinwheel: approx 11cm (4¼in) diameter Medium pinwheel: approx 9cm (3½in) diameter Small pinwheel: approx 8cm (3in) diameter Extra small pinwheel: approx 7cm (2¾in) diameter ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 . Capture all the fun of a trip to the seaside with these simple crochet pinwheels. Designer Becky Skuse says: “These are so easy and fun to crochet, they’re perfect for making on holiday or once you get back. Get the kids to help you choose yarn and buttons for a really special make. I used some spare yarn from my stash and chose in-between colours of blue-green,…

YOU WILL NEED • Navia Duo 4ply (100% wool, 50g/180m), 5 balls of each: Yarn A Natural White (21) Yarn B Curry (236) 4 balls of Yarn C Rope (28) 2 balls of each: Yarn D Terracotta (237) Yarn E Light Blue (242) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook For yarn stockists, contact Island Wool Company 0845 2001162 www.islandwool.co.uk TENSION 20 sts and 7 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using a 3mm hook or size needed to achieve tension MEASUREMENTS 168x248cm (66x97›in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 . Crochet designer Sarah Hazell says: ”This design was inspired by traditional patchwork throws in which the fabric pieces appear to overlap – I am always fascinated how different textile traditions can inspire…

HEXAGON MOTIF Ch4, join with a ss to form a ring. Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr), 2tr, ch2, (3tr, ch2) five times into the ring, ss to top of beg ch-3. [18 tr, 6 ch-2 sps] Round 2 Ss to next ch-2 sp, ch3 (counts as tr), (2tr, ch1, 3tr) in same ch-sp, (3tr, ch1, 3tr) into each remaining ch-2 sp, ss to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends. Wendy Merino 4ply WEIGHT 4ply CONTENT 100% superwash merino wool BALL 50g/175m HOOK 3.5mm RRP £3.90 Wendy’s ever-popular Merino is a good-quality yarn that won’t break the bank. The big news is that it’s now available in even more beautiful shades, including this soft lavender tone. It’s 100% superwash merino so it’s machine washable and…

HOLDING THE HOOK Try these methods and see which works best. PENCIL METHOD Hold the hook like a pencil, in your right hand (if you’re right-handed), about 3-5cm from the hooked end. If your hook has a flat area, you’ll find it comfortable to hold it here. KNIFE METHOD Hold the hook between your thumb and forefinger, about 3-5cm from the hooked end, resting the end of the hook against your palm. This will give you lots of control. HOLDING THE YARN Even tension results in even stitches. METHOD ONE Pass the ball end of the yarn between the little finger and third fingers of your left hand (if you are right-handed), then behind the third and middle fingers, over your index finger. METHOD TWO Loop the ball end of…

This month, back-to-school style inspiration comes in the form of these unapologetically matching crochet accessories. Because why wouldn’t you want to co-ordinate your bag, belt and hat in jade green? This striking trio of vintage patterns hails from the seventies and while we’re not head-over-heels for the colour choices, it must be said that matching accessories seem to pull together any outfit. And while we admit that a baker boy hat might not be for everyone, a fringed crochet bag is a retro classic that wouldn’t look out of place on the high street today. Whichever make you prefer, all three of them are fairly beginner-friendly, worked in rows of double crochet stitches using aranweight yarn. If you’d like to make these yourself, you can find the pattern for these…

BABY BLANKETS & TOYS Teri Crews (£5.99, Annie’s Crochet) There are five cute baby sets to make in this pattern book. Each one includes a colourful blanket and a matching amigurumi toy. The patterns are written in US terms, but stitch charts are included for each of the designs. Very sweet. SIMPLY STUNNING CROCHETED BAGS Coats GmbH (£7.99, Search Press) If you love accessories then this vibrant collection of 23 bags is worth a look. There are patterns for handbags, shoppers, beach bags and more, plus an illustrated guide to basic crochet techniques. STITCH LOVE Mollie Johanson (£12.99, Lark Books) Master simple sewing and embroidery techniques to create adorable animal toys, accessories and embellishments. You’ll find helpful guides to all the stitches required, as well as templates and over 100…

AN APPLE A DAY How cute is this Children’s Apple Bag crochet pattern by DMC? Find a stockist near you at www.dmccreative.co.uk FOR THE WISE Jazz up a school backpack with an owl key ring. Download the free pattern from Ravelry. Search for Yarn Artists. DRINK UP Old-fashioned mini school milk bottles, or cute vintage-style hook storage? From www.oak roomshop.co.uk PACKED LUNCH Visit www.dot comgiftshop.com to grab this cute, not-quite-Orla-Keily apple lunch box. Also fab for stashing notions. GET SCRIBBLING New stationery is a bit of a must in September. Find cute geometric notebooks at www.dotcom giftshop.com…

The unthinkable has happened – I seem to have lost my crojo. The signs had been there for a while, but after throwing a mitten across the room for the third time and deciding that cleaning every inch of my house was infinitely more appealing than crochet, I realised it was a bit more serious than just frustration. The causes can be varied – hot weather, life stresses or a project that just isn’t going your way can sap any enthusiasm for crochet. For me, it’s almost always when I have finished a really big project and I am just fed up of spending every moment working. HOW TO FIX IT This isn’t the first time I’ve lost my crojo. It has happened many times over the last few years…

YOU WILL NEED For Pineapple Bag: • Rico Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton, 50g/85m), 4 balls of Mustard (70) 1 ball of Light Green (40) • A 4.5mm (US 7) hook For Watermelon Clutch: • Rico Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton, 50g/85m), 4 balls of Fuchsia (13) 2 balls of Green (49) 1 ball of White (80) • Small amount of black cotton yarn or black beads • A 4.5mm (US 7) hook • Pink nylon zip (30cm/12in) (available from www.thehomemakery.com) • Cotton fabric for lining (approx 25cm/9¾in) • Matching thread and needle • Sharp darning needle For yarn stockists, contact Rico www.rico-design.co.uk MEASUREMENTS Pineapple Bag: base 21cm (8¼in) diameter, height 24cm (9½in) Watermelon Clutch: 35x18cm (13¾x7in) ABBREVIATIONS Puff stitch (Yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and…